Effective Leadership Styles

Leadership styles are varied and many in count. Finding the “right” leadership style isn’t always what a leader should be looking for. They should be looking for what is most effective to help their team reach their goals and, in turn, help the company.

DirectiveWhile you don’t simply tell your team what to do, you are very clear in establishing objectives for your team. You’re extremely well-equipped to provide structure and are highly skilled at assisting employees in having clear perceptions of their roles. This type of leader, and it’s not always a bad thing, my lean toward micro-managing their team so ensure that goals and objectives are reached.

SupportiveSupportive leaders are often approachable and empathetic. Their concern for their team shines through and they go out of their way to ensure that each team member feels treated with dignity and respect. As a result, their team members feel valued and cared for. When there are changes that happen within a company, team members will turn to this type of leader first because there is a level of trust built that will help guide them through times of uncertainty.

TransformationalOf course, every leader wants to be transformational in some way. If a leader aspires to this, they will lead through their vision. This leader will have their vision pointed towards the future and will model that forward-thinking effectively to their team. They serve as inspiration for their team and are followed because their team members believe in the common goals that their leaders have shared with them.

ParticipativeThis type of leader works very hard at soliciting employee input. They strongly encourage team member involvement in decision-making and, perhaps most importantly, making sure that their team members know that their views have all been considered. Sometimes, these types of leaders will consult directly with employees or are able to to delegate some of your authority to employees.

No matter the leadership style that you find to be most effective, the aforementioned styles are great places to begin if you’re just starting out in a leadership role. Take a few moments and reflect on how you would personally like to be involved as a team member and model your leadership style after those thoughts.